The streets of Baltimore County might seem a bit safer these days, at least in the digital realm. The local police department has teamed up with the big guns at the FBI to form a dyed-in-the-wool defense against cybercrime. This new partnership sees two of Baltimore County's finest, Corporals Jasmine Fleet and Gregory Depew, enlisting in the FBI Cyber Task Force ranks. According to the official announcement by the Baltimore County Government, these officers are set to undergo extensive training at the Secret Services’ National Computer Forensic Institute.
In a move that places the Baltimore County Police Department on the frontlines, Police Chief Robert O. McCullough shared, "By partnering with the FBI, the Baltimore County Police Department will continue to be positioned as a forward-thinking agency with highly skilled members equipped to anticipate and address cyber threats." These aren't just empty words. With over 880,000 cyber incidents reported to the FBI in 2023, loss tallies hit around $12.5 billion, a figure that's hard to ignore, as detailed by Baltimore County's press release.
The FBI certainly feels the weight of such numbers, planting firmly the importance of cyber expertise across all levels of law enforcement. "Cyber touches nearly every investigation the FBI conducts," Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno told the press. This partnership will enable us to work more closely together and build stronger cases. Simply put, we’ll be able to bring justice to more victims and help prevent more crime. As Executive Johnny Olszewski makes clear, Baltimore County isn't taking the cyber threat lying down. "Keeping our residents safe is a top priority in Baltimore County and the growing threat of cybercrime is a problem that cannot — and will not – be ignored here," he asserted. This collaboration isn't just about training officers; it's about embedding them in a federal framework that empowers them to tackle digital crimes locally and assist other jurisdictions while bolstering the county’s commitment to public security, according to the county's press release.
